Detroit Lions defensive end Larry Webster runs through a drill during rookie mini-camp at the Lions training facilities in Allen Park on Friday May 16, 2014. / Julian H. Gonzalez/DFP

By Anthony Kuehn

Detroit Free Press Special Writer

Anthony Kuehn is editor of the Detroit Lions blog Lions Gab. His opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the Detroit Free Press nor its writers. Get in touch with Anthony at lionsgab@gmail.com or on Twitter @lionsgab.

NFL training camp and the Hall of Fame game are right around the corner. Here are eight players I will be focusing on leading up to Lions training camp at Allen Park.

Larry Webster, DE: Everybody wants to see what the rookies have, but my interest in Webster is different than a standard rookie. Webster was drafted as a raw prospect who played only two years of small-college football. Nobody is expecting him to compete for a starting job in 2014, but some believe he is too raw to even contribute this season.

The Lions know they can’t risk cutting him and try putting him on the practice squad, so the injured reserve is the only way to “redshirt” him for a year. Seeing him in action will go a long way toward establishing where he is in his development and how much he can contribute this season, if anything.

Chris Greenwood, CB: Another top athlete from a small school, Greenwood has been the definition of tantalizing for the Lions. He has prototypical size and speed at a position of need, but he is injury prone. Greenwood is entering his third season, and the time to prove himself is now. The new coaches might not have the same level of patience, but they realize his potential.

Greenwood has seen some game action and looked good, so he’s not as much of an unknown as in previous years. He needs to stay on the field through training camp and the exhibition season to have a shot at the 53-man roster. Cornerbacks take time to develop, and they typically break out in Year 3 if it’s going to happen. Greenwood is off that pace after missing 1˝ years to injury.

Caraun Reid, DT: My list is a little heavier on rookies than usual, but Webster and Reid aren’t your usual midround picks. While Webster has athleticism, Reid has top-notch intellect. Defensive tackle is another position with a high learning curve. Players need to understand their hand technique and footwork, but they also need to understand the offensive lines’ blocking scheme. A tackle needs to know what the offense is trying to accomplish and where the offensive lineman are trying to move him. The physical aspects definitely come easier than the mental ones.

Reid could be another player to be groomed for a year or two, or he could be able to shorten the mental learning curve and contribute this season. With Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley slated to be free agents next season, the more Reid can show this year, the better position the Lions are in planning for next year.

Isa Abdul-Quddus, S: One of the biggest needs for the Lions this off-season was finding a young safety to develop in the draft. They didn’t do that, but they have a young safety on the roster with 42 games of experience, including five starts. Abdul-Quddus is only 24, and he is a core special-teams contributor. Can he develop into a viable replacement if a starter goes down?

If Abdul-Quddus can prove he has the ability to be an every-down player, the Lions are on more stable ground depth-wise in the secondary than it appeared in the off-season.

Rob Sims, G: Sims is a veteran who has proven to be one of the best guards in the NFL when he’s on top of his game. He struggled through an injury-plagued 2013, and I’m looking forward to seeing if he’s 100%.

Riley Reiff struggled at times last year, and I think he would have played better if Sims were at full strength last year. If Sims returns to form, and I’m correct that some of Reiff’s issues were a result of Sims’ struggles, this offensive line has the potential to be one of the best in the league.

Kellen Moore, QB: When the Lions kept Moore on the active roster in 2012, I couldn’t believe they wasted a spot on the player I saw in the exhibition season. His arm was too weak, he looked overwhelmed, and there was no way he could step in and play if needed. He didn’t take the field that exhibition season.

In 2013, he looked like a vastly improved player. His arm strength was noticeably better, he was very quick to process information, and he looked like he could be an effective backup. He has done nothing on the field in a game yet, and most of his exhibition time has been against bottom-of-the-roster players. The Lions have a need for a long-term backup, and Moore could be another Shaun Hill for them.

Hill is a coach’s son, very smart and was another coach on the sideline; Moore fits that description as well. If he can prove some level of effectiveness on the field, the Lions might have their backup quarterback position in good hands for a few seasons. Remember, Joe Lombardi has had a bit of success with an undersized overachiever at quarterback in New Orleans.

Corey Fuller, WR: Fuller has elite size and speed and comes from a family of professional athletes. He is the Chris Greenwood of the offense. Fuller has the physical tools to be an effective receiver, but he needed a year on the practice squad to grasp the mental aspects of the game and add some muscle to his tall frame.

The Lions have two receivers nailed down, but have three open slots. Fuller has the opportunity to take one of those positions and help the Lions fill a void at outside receiver. Ryan Broyles, TJ Jones, Kevin Ogletree and Jeremy Ross are more slot-type receivers. Fuller projects as an outside guy who could backup Calvin Johnson.

His brother was the first-round draft pick of the Bears, and I am very interested to see if he will be on the field to play against him, or if he will spend another year on the practice squad.

Ryan Broyles, WR: Broyles has proven to be a very effective receiver when healthy. He is such a great route-runner that he can play on the outside if needed, even though he lacks the preferred size and speed.

Many view Broyles as a wasted pick, but if he is fully recovered and can stay on the field, he has the potential to add another devastating weapon to the offense.